Gender differences in health-related quality of life and psychological distress among coronary patients: Does comorbidity matter? Results from the ESC EORP EUROASPIRE V registry.

AIMS: This study aimed to provide an overview on contemporary gender differences in HRQoL/psychological distress and their relationship with comorbidity burden among European coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. METHODS: Analyses were based on the cross-sectional ESC EORP EUROASPIRE V survey. Consecutive patients (aged 18-80 years), hospitalized for a first or recurrent coronary event were included in this study. Data at hospital discharge and at follow-up (6 to 24 months after hospitalisation) were collected. RESULTS: Data were available for 8261 patients of which 25.8% women. Overall, women reported a worse EQ-5D-5L index score (0.73 vs. 0.81; P < 0.001), EQ-VAS (63.1 vs. 66.0; P = 0.001), global HeartQoL (1.94 vs. 2.26; P < 0.001), physical HeartQoL (1.96 vs. 2.30; P < 0.001), emotional HeartQoL (1.88 vs. 2.18; P < 0.001), HADS-A (6.69 vs. 4.99; P < 0.001), and HADS-D (5.73 vs. 4.62; P < 0.001) compared to men. Also, women were more likely to have comorbidities compared to men (1 comorbidity: 38.7% vs. 35.0%, 2 comorbidities: 9.7% vs. 7.5%; P < 0.001). There is indication that heart failure (EQ-VAS) and diabetes (global HeartQoL, emotional HeartQoL, physical HeartQoL, and HADS-D) interacted with gender and modulate the relationship with HRQoL, in disfavour of women. CONCLUSION: Substantial gender-based health inequalities in terms of HRQoL and psychological distress were found, in disfavour of women. Women had worse HRQoL and psychological distress outcomes when having comorbidities. To a limited extent, comorbidity and women had a negative/synergistic effect on HRQoL. Special attention should be given to this population groups within daily clinical practice.

QALY losses for chronic diseases and its social distribution in the general population: results from the Belgian Health Interview Survey.

BACKGROUND: The burden of chronic diseases is rapidly rising, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. This burden is disproportionally carried by socially disadvantaged population subgroups. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) measure the impact of disease on mortality and morbidity into a single index. This study aims to estimate the burden of chronic diseases in terms of QALY losses and to model its social distribution for the general population. METHODS: The Belgian Health Interview Survey 2013 and 2018 provided data on self-reported chronic conditions for a nationally representative sample. The annual QALY loss per 100,000 individuals was calculated for each condition, incorporating disease prevalence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data (EQ-5D-5L). Socioeconomic inequalities, based on respondents' socioeconomic status (SES), were assessed by estimating population attributable fractions (PAF). RESULTS: For both years, the largest QALY losses were observed in dorsopathies, arthropathies, hypertension/high cholesterol, and genitourinary problems. QALY losses were larger in women and in older individuals. Individuals with high SES had consistently lower QALY loss when facing a chronic disease compared to those with low SES. In both years, a higher PAF was found in individuals with hip fracture and stroke. In 2013, the health inequality gap amounts to 33,731 QALYs and further expanded to 42,273 QALYs in 2018. CONCLUSION: Given that chronic diseases will rise in the next decades, addressing its burden is necessary, particularly among the most vulnerable (i.e. older persons, women, low SES). Interventions in these target groups should get priority in order to reduce the burden of chronic diseases.

Belgian population norms for the EQ-5D-5L, 2018.

PURPOSE: Health-related quality of life outcomes are increasingly used to monitor population health and health inequalities and to assess the (cost-) effectiveness of health interventions. The EQ-5D-5L has been included in the Belgian Health Interview Survey, providing a new source of population-based self-perceived health status information. This study aims to estimate Belgian population norms for the EQ-5D-5L by sex, age, and region and to analyze its association with educational attainment. METHODS: The BHIS 2018 provided EQ-5D-5L data for a nationally representative sample of the Belgian population. The dimension scores and index values were analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, respectively, accounting for the survey design. RESULTS: More than half of respondents reported problems of pain/discomfort, while over a quarter reported problems of anxiety/depression. The average index value was 0.84. Women reported more problems on all dimensions, but particularly on anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort, resulting in significantly lower index values. Problems with mobility, self-care, and usual activities showed a sharp increase after the age of 80 years. Consequently, index values decreased significantly by age. Lower education was associated with a higher prevalence of problems for all dimensions except anxiety/depression and with a significantly lower index value. CONCLUSION: This paper presents the first nationally representative Belgian population norms using the EQ-5D-5L. Inclusion of the EQ-5D in future surveys will allow monitoring over time of self-reported health, disease burden, and health inequalities.

A comprehensive catalogue of EQ-5D scores in chronic disease: results of a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Chronic diseases are associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes. Comparison of HRQoL outcomes between different diseases and with the general population is of major importance to health economists, epidemiologists, clinicians, and policy makers. The aim of this systematic literature review was to develop a catalogue with EQ-5D scores in chronic non-communicable diseases, and to compare these scores with reference values from the general population. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched independently by two reviewers. Studies were included if they reported mean EQ-5D index values for the adult population and if these scores were compared with the general population. The QualSyst tool for quantitative research was used for quality appraisal. RESULTS: Two hundred and seven articles met the inclusion criteria. An extensive catalogue summarizes the EQ-5D scores in a wide variety of chronic diseases. Mean EQ-5D index values ranged between - 0.20 and 1. Lower EQ-5D scores are reported in chronic diseases compared to the general population, specifically in neurological disorders. Most of the diseases demonstrate a substantial disutility, although a minority of diseases have equal or even higher index scores than the general population. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive, international catalogue has been developed to provide EQ-5D index scores for diverse chronic diseases compared with reference values based on the available literature. The catalogue gives a clear overview of the existing EQ-5D scores and can be rapidly accessed by researchers worldwide for different applications such as health economic evaluations, decision making, resource allocation, and other policy objectives. Future studies should focus on unexamined diseases and specific patient groups to expand the evidence base on HRQoL in chronic diseases.

Factors Associated with the Caregivers' Desire to Institutionalize Persons with Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dementia is one of the main reasons for institutionalization among the elderly. Few studies have explored factors associated with the caregivers' (CG) desire to institutionalize (DTI) a person with dementia (PWD). The objective of this study is to identify modifiable and non-modifiable psychosocial and sociodemographic factors associated with a caregiver's DTI. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of 355 informal CG of community-dwelling PWD were analyzed. Several characteristics were identified in CG and PWD to be included in a multivariable regression model based on the purposeful selection method. RESULTS: Positively modifiable associated factors were: higher CG burden, being affected by behavioral problems, and respite care use. Positively associated non-modifiable factors were: CG older age, being professionally active, and CG higher educational level. Cohabitation and change of professional situation were negatively associated. CONCLUSION: Although no causality can be assumed, several practical recommendations can be suggested. First of all, these results reconfirm the importance of multicomponent strategies, especially support aimed at decreasing burden and in learning coping strategies. Also, CG might benefit from information about support options, such as respite care services. Finally, special attention should be given to older and working CG. In the latter, flexible and adaptive working conditions might alleviate burden and therefore reduce the DTI of the PWD.